NPR's Michele Kelemen reports Russia is trying to make its legal system fair and more efficient. There are an estimated 300 thousand people in pre-trial detention nationwide. Judges are bogged down with an overload of cases and justices of the peace are being trained to help with the caseload by taking on civil cases. Defense attorneys are encouraging their clients to opt for jury trials, which they say are fairer and result in more acquittals.
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